Binder and lock therefor.



No. 769,857. PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904 H. E. DADE.

BINDER AND LUGK'THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1898.

4 N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 769,857. PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1 904.

H. E. DADE.

BINDER AND LOOK THEREFOR APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1898.

WITNESSES:

PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904. H. E. DADE.

s SHEETS-SHEET a.

BINDER AND LOCK THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1898.

N0 MODEL.

A 'I I'l'll l lluil INVENTOR WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

BINDER AND LOOK THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,857, da edSeptember 13, 1904.

I Application filed June ,8, 1898. Serial No. 682,870. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY E. DADE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester, State of NewYork, have invented a new and Improved Binder and Lock Therefor, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to binders adapted to securely hold in book forma number of removable sheets.

It also relates to a lock designed for and intended to be used in suchbinder, but also capable of uses in other relations.

The invention consists of the various features and combinations offeatures hereinafter referred to, and particularly specified in theclaims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification I have shown a binderand lock embodying the various features of my invention in the best formnow known to me, showing also two of the many modifications of which theinvention is susceptible.

Figure 1 is a sectional plan View of the binder, taken on the line 1. 1of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs.3 and 4: are plan views of the upper binding-strip. parts being removedand showing certain parts in different positions. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation, partly in section,of a removable post. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection of the lock. Figs.-7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 2, showingtwo dififerent modifications. Figs. 9 and 10 are rear ends of two sheetsadapted for use in binders, including certain features of my invention.

Referring now to the various features comprising the invention, andparticularly as shown in the accompanymg drawlngs, A and B designate twostrips between which the sheets S are held in place. These strips aregenerally covered with leather or canvas and secured by suitableflexible connections or hinges to covers D. Between the strips A and Bextends a pair of posts C and C, adapted to engage apertures, recesses,or shoulders formed in the sheets S at or near the margin thereof. Theseposts engage the strips A and B and in their best form are extensible,so as to permit the strips to be separated within certain limits for thepurpose of inserting additional sheets in place between them, asconvenience may require, and also to permit the sheets already in thebinder to be separated for the extraction of old sheets and theinsertion ofnew ones. In making the posts C extensible I prefer toconstruct them of two telescoping members, the male member engaging, asby a permanent rigid engagement, one of the strips and the farther endof the female member engaging the' other strip permanently and rigidly,as shown in Fig. 2, or loosely, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, as willhereinafter be de scribed. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the male members aare in engagement with the strip B and the female members Z) are inengagement with the strip A. To prevent the complete disconnection ofthe strips A and B, I may form heads 0 on the members a larger than therestricted openings (Z at the lower ends of the members 6, or othersuitable means to accomplish this purpose may be employed. Anotherfeature of my invention is the removable post E, of which I prefer toemploy two, extending through an aperture in one strip, as A, and intoengagement with the other strip, as B. These posts may vary considerablyin their construction and arrangement. I prefer to have them engage thestrip B by telescoping with short studs 0, fixed to said strip, and alsoto provide them with heads f, larger than the aperture 0' in the stripA, so as to support these posts in proper position and prevent them fromdropping down too far. In using the removable posts E and thenon-removable posts C, I prefer to employ with them sheets, such as S,having closed apertures 0 for the removable posts E and open apertures cfor the non-removable posts C, and when removing such a sheet from thebinder the posts E are first withdrawn, and the sheets being then freeat the apertures 0' may be pulled off the posts C, which at the openapertures 0 do not form an impassable obstruction. It is desirable tolock the posts E in place, so that the sheets may not be withdrawn fromthe binder except by the proper person. To

provide for this, any suitable device may be employed to engage theposts E. I prefer to use the device shown in the drawings, especially inFigs. 3 and 4:. The strip A, as shown in these figures, and, in fact, inall the figures, is made in the form of a casing preferably of metal andhas a top piece 9 secured in place by screws passing into bosses gWithin the casing are slides F, connected by pivoted arms it to arotatable button G, which is centrally located in the casing, the slidesbeing supported on narrow flanges h on the side Walls of the casing.When the button G is rotated in one direction, the slides engage notchesf cut in the heads f of the posts E, and thereby secure the posts inplace. When the button G is reversed, the slides are withdrawn from thenotches f and the posts may be removed. The button G is preferablyrotated by a key passing through a keyhole g in the casing and into aslot g in the button G. In order to render the posts readily removableby hand and at the same time keep the heads flush with the top of thestrip A,I secure suitable springs beneath the heads f, which may be thesmall coiled springs f secured to the posts, which when the posts are inplace rest upon the strip A and tend to lift the heads f above the topof the strip, so that they may be readily grasped by the hand. When theposts are held down in place, thesprings f sink into countersunkrecesses f in the bottom of the heads f. When the posts Ehave beenpassed down through the strips A, the springs f hold the heads slightlyabove the top Q of the strip, as has been explained, and in order toconveniently press the heads f down flush with the top g,"so that theslides F may lock them there, I form a bevel on the lower side of thenotches f, whereby the slides themselves as they move outward contactwith the bevels and automatically force the posts fully home.

In order to hold the strips A and B firmly against the sheets. placedbetween them, and thereby prevent the removal of any sheet even when theposts E are omitted, as in some cases might be done, I employ means forlocking the strips together, such means shown in the drawings beingnovel and one of the featuses of my invention whether considered byitself or in connection with other features. I prefer in all cases toemploy this particular form of locking means; but if other locking meanswere used with my binder instead some of the features of my inventionand their attending advantages would still be present. My locking devicecomprises a post extending between the strips A and B and having twomembers provided with interlocking faces,

one at least of the members being rotatablewith respect to the other,whereby the interlocking faces may be shifted into and out of engagementby the rotation of such member.

In the preferred embodiment of this device as 5 shown in the drawings, Jis such a post, comprising two members j and y", the former being fixedto the strip B and the latter being rotatably connected with the stripA. The member j is in the form of a tube having its bore provided withscrew-threads f, planed smooth on opposite faces of the bore. The member1' is in the form of a post having quarter screwthreads and made smoothbetween these threads. The members and j may slide one in the other whentheir threads are out of mesh; but when the member is turned a quarterof a revolution the threads are fully in mesh and the members are lockedtogether. The screw -threads thus form interlocking faces. By extendingthe member 1a substantial distance into the member the post J is madeextensible, whereby the strips A and B may be moved to and from eachother and locked at various points of their separation. To prevent themembers from being detached from each other, a head may be formed on themember j, which is unable to pass. the threads i when the members areunlocked. The member is preferably provided with a head adapted toreceive a key for the rotation of said member. In employing thislockingpost in the hinder the button G serves as this head, and themember is secured to this button G. By this arrangement the locking-postmay be operated simultaneously with the slides F and the parts he soarranged that the slides engage the posts E simultaneously with thelocking of the lock. This arrangement is preferred and is that shown inthe Figs. 1, 2, 3, and l.

In order to prevent access to the lockingpost J except at its end bymeans of the key and also in order to protect the ends. of the sheetsfrom dust and present a neat appear- I 5 ance, I employ a back for thebinder, comprising two overlapping pieces K and K, secured to the outeredges of the strips A and B. These pieces K and K are preferably securedto lugs. k and respectively, formed on the strips. To prevent the stripsA and B from being entirely disconnected, I may connect the pieces K andK by pins Z and slots Z.

In a binder of the general character herein described wherein posts areemployed to hold I I5 the sheets in place between the strips it may A beobserved that the sheets may be thus held' in place with a certaindegree of advantage and for-some purposes by the employment of only twoposts engaging apertures, notches,

or shoulders formed in the sheets on the rear margin or at the two sidemargins near the rear. My binder in its preferred form, however, hasfive posts, including the lockingpost J, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and4:. In 5 such preferred form thelocking-post J is not recommended to beused to engage apertures, notches, or shoulders in the sheets, so as tothereby hold the sheets, as do the other posts, as such use in this formis unnecessary. The sheets are merely cut away to accommodate thelocking-post J in order that they may be secured by the othersheet-posts; but it will be readily seen that the locking-post J couldbe employed as a'sheetpost, if desired, by simply providing the sheetswith apertures, notches, or shoulders therefor. In view of these factsit will beseen that some of the advantages of my invention may besecured in a binder useful for some purposes if of the five postspreferably employed by me, including the post J, any two or more wereused as sheet-posts. If two of the posts J or one of them with one otherpost or any two other posts should be used alone to retain the sheets,it would be recommended to locate these posts somewhat near the ends ofthe strips A and B and omit the other posts; but this location would notbe essential.

If the post J and one of the posts E should be used alone, one slide Fwould of course be omitted. The various other ways of using only certainfeatures of my invention are so readily apparent upon suggestion thatfurther explanation is deemed not necessary and would perhaps only serveto burden the case. In Fig. 8, however, I have shown a binder in whichonly three posts are employed, the locking-post J being used as asheet-post or not, as desired.

Fig, 7 and Fig. 8 embody other modifications now to be described. InFig. 7 is shown a binder identical in construction and use with thatshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, L, and 5, except that the non-removable postsare not rigidly secured to the strip A, but are in loose engagementtherewith, means being provided to secure them to the strip when thelockingpost is unlocked. These posts are designated M and comprise themembers m and m. The members m have heads a fitting loosely in aperturesor recesses p in the strip A and are provided with notches a, arrangedto be engaged by catches'n carried by the slides F, which, with theexception that they have catches 11 are similar to the slides F of Fig.2. When the slides engage the removable posts E and the interlockingfaces of the post J are in engagement, the catches n are out ofengagement with the heads 72., and when the interlocking faces of thepost J are disengaged and the removable posts are free the catches aengage the heads a. It will thus be seen that when the strips A and Bare moved apart for theinsertion or withdrawalof sheets the members amwill be carried by the strip A, so as thereby to extend the posts VI. 0is a pin secured in the head 01. of each post M and fitting notches inthe recesses 9, so as to insure the heads being properly centered in therecesses p for the catches n to enter the I notches n.

In Fig. 8 the posts E are omitted, and the posts M have the notches nturned toward the post J. The slides F substantially similar to theslides F, engage these notches when the members of the locking-post aredisengaged, the catches a being omitted.

In Figs. 9 and 10 are shown the rear ends oftwo sheets R and T.Sidenotches 1' and a back open aperture 8 are formed in sheet R and sideshoulders 25 and a back openaperture s are formedin sheet T. Thesesheets may be used in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 8,the post J being used as a sheet-post as well as a locking-post, ifdesired, and engaging the open apertures .9. They also indicate some ofthe ways a sheet may be engaged by the different posts shownin the otherfigures.

It will be observed that in Fig. .Zthe smaller ends of the posts G@'.0., the ends having the smaller diameter are arranged at the bottom andthat the smaller ends of the posts E are arranged at the top,considering the tubes e a part of the posts E, or, in other words, thesmaller or male ends of one pair of posts are opposite the female orlarger ends of the other pair of posts. The apertures or notches in thesheets engaged by these posts are preferably made ofsuch size that theyfit the larger portions of the posts snugly, so as to leave no room forplay. The apertures or notches fit the smaller portions of the posts, ofcourse, less snugly. It is desirable to keep the sheets at all times insubstantially exact alinement, and by the relative arrangement of theposts described this is accomplished notwithstanding the fact that eachpost differs in diameter as to its different portions. This results fromthe fact that there are always at least two apertures or notches in eachsheet held by the larger portions of two of the posts, so that thesheets can have no play.

The heads of the posts E and the apertures in the strip A, which receivethem, may be flattened on one side, as shown in Figs. 3 and i 4, toinsure the proper centering of the posts,

so that the slides F will always engage their notchesf. In some casesthe notches f may be omitted and the apertures closed by the slides F orotherwise above the posts E to hold them in place.

While I have herein shown and described the various features andcombinations of features of my invention in their preferred forms, IWish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to suchspecific forms.

Various modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilledin the art adapted in a greater or less degree to secure some of theadvantages 'of the various features and combinations of featuresincluded within the scope of my invention.

' What I claim as new, and by Letters Patent, is-

1. In abinder, the combination of two strips desire to secure adapted tobe moved to and from each other, one or more extensible sheet-engagingposts extending between the strips, a lock separate and distinct fromsaid post or posts arranged to permit the strips to be moved to and fromeach other and which locks them together at various points of theirseparation, and means connected with the lock for engaging the said postor posts and thereby locking said post or posts in place.

2. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved to andfrom each other, one or more extensible sheet-engaging posts extendingbetween the strips, a lock separate and distinct from said post or postsarranged to permit the strips to be moved to and from each other andwhich looks them together at various points of their separation, andmeans connected with the lock for engaging the said post or postssimultaneously with the locking of the lock and thereby locking saidpost or posts in place.

3. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved to andfrom each other, one or more extensible sheet-engaging posts extendingbetween the strips, a lock separate and distinct from said post or postsarranged to permit the strips to be moved to and from each other andwhich locks them together at various points of their separation, andmeans connected with the lock for engaging the said post or postssimultaneously with the operating of the lock and thereby locking saidpost or posts in place.

4. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved to andfrom each other, one or more extensible sheet-engaging posts extendingbetween the strips, a lock separate and distinct from said post or postscomprising an extensible post having two members respectively engagingthe respective strips and thereby arranged to permit the strips to bemoved to and from each other and which looks them together at variouspoints of their separation, and means connected with the lock forengaging said sheet-engaging post or posts and thereby locking said postor posts in place.

5. In a hinder, the combination of two strips, two or moresheet-engaging post's extending between said strips of which at leastone post is non-removable and one post is removable,

the removable post extending through an aperture in one strip intoengagement with the other strip, and means for securing said removablepost in position.

6. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved to andfrom each other, two or more sheet-engaging extensible posts extendingbetween said strips of which at least one post is non-removable and onepost is removable, the removable post extending through an apertureinone strip into engagement with the other strip, and means for securingsaid removable post in position.

7. In abinder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved to. andfrom each other, two or more sheeteengaging extensible posts extendingbetween said strips of which at least one post is non-removable and onepost is removable, the removable post extending through an aperture inone strip into engagement with the other strip, and, means for securingsaid removable post in position and means for locking the stripstogether at various points of their-separation.

8. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved to andfrom each other, two or more sheet-engaging extensible posts extendingbetween said strips of which at least one post is non-removable and onepost is removable, the removable post extending through an aperture inone strip into engagement with the other strip, means for securing saidremovable post in position, and means comprising an additionalextensible post having two members provided with interlocking faces andrespectively engaging the respective strips whereby the removable postor posts may be secured in position and the strips locked together atvarious points of their separation.

9. In abinder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved to andfrom each other, two or more sheet-engaging extensible posts extendingbetween said strips of which at least one post is non-removable and onepost is removable, the removable post extending through an aperture inone strip into engagement with the other strip, means for securing saidremovable post in position, and means comprising an additionalextensible post having two members provided with interlocking faces andrespectively engaging the respective strips, one of said members beingrotatable with respect to the other, whereby the removable post or postsmay be secured in position and the strips locked together at variouspoints of their separation.

10. In a binder, the combination of two strips, two or more postsextending between said strips of which at least one post is nonremovableand one post is removable, the removable post extending through anaperture in one strip into engagement with the other strip, and having alifting-spring and provided at its head with a bevel, and a slideadapted to engage the bevel to force said post against thelifting-spring and secure it in position.

11. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved toand from each other, a pair of sheet-en gaging extensible nonremovableposts and a pair of extensible removable posts extending between thestrips, said removable posts extending through apertures in one stripinto engagement with the other strip, means for securing said removableposts in position, and a lock for securing the strips at various pointsof their separation.

12. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved toand from each other, a pair of sheet-engaging extensible nonremovabl eposts and a pair of extensible removable posts extending between thestrips, said removable posts extending through apertures in one stripinto engagement with the other strip, key-operated devices forsimultaneously securing the said removable posts in position, and a lockfor securing the strips at various points of their separation.

13. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved toand from each other, a pair of extensible non-removable posts and a pairof extensible removableposts extending between the strips, saidnon-removable posts each comprising two members one of which is fixed toone strip and the other of which is provided with a locking-head looselyengaging the other strip and said removable posts extending throughapertures in one strip into engagement with the other strip, means forsecuring said removable posts in position, a lock for securing thestrips at various points of their separation, and means for engaging thelocking-heads of said non-removable posts and thereby securing them tothe strip which they engage simultaneously with the unlocking of thelock.

14:. In a hinder, the combination of two strips, two or more postsextending between said strips of which at least one post is nonremovableand one post is removable, a nonremovable post comprising two membersone of which is fixed to one strip and the other of which is providedwith a head loosely engaging the other strip, and a removable postextending through an aperture in one strip into engagement with theother strip; means for securing said removable post in position; andmeans for engaging the head of said non-removable post and therebysecuring said nonremovable post to the strip which said nonremovablepost engages simultaneously with the releasing of the removable post.

15. In a binder, the combination of two strips, two or more postsextending between said strips of which at least one post is nonremovableand one post is removable, a nonremovable post comprising two membersone of which is fixed to one strip and the other of which is providedwith a head loosely engaging the other strip, and a removable postextending through an aperture in one strip into engagement with theother strip; means for securing said removable post in position; andmeans for engaging the head of said non-removable post and therebysecuring said nonremovable post to the strip. which said nonremovablepost engages simultaneously with the releasing of the removable post,and means for locking said strips together including an extensible posthaving two members provided with interlocking faces and securedrespectively to the respective strips.

16. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved toand from each other, a pair of sheet-engaging extensible posts extendingbetween the strips, each post comprising two members, one member of eachof said posts being fixed to one strip and the other member of at leastone of said posts being in loose engagement with the other strip, andmeans for locking said last-mentioned member to the strip which itengages.

17. In a binder, the combination of two strips adapted to be moved toand from each other and provided with means for locking them together inany desired position, a pair of sheet-engaging extensible postsextending between the strips, each post comprising two members, onemember of each of said posts being fixed to one strip and the othermember of at least one of said posts being in loose engagement with theother strip, and means for locking said last-mentioned member to thestrip which it engages.

18. In a binder, the combination of two strips, adapted to be moved toand from each other and provided with means to prevent their completeseparation, a pair of non-removable extensible posts secured at theirends to the respective strips, a pair of removable posts arranged toextend through apertures in one strip and into engagement with the otherstrip, an extensible locking-post comprising two members secured attheir ends to the strips and having interlocking faces, one of saidmembers being rotatable with, respect to the other and adapted toreceive a key at its end through an aperture in the corresponding strip,whereby the locking-faces may be shifted into and out of lockingposition, lockingslides connected with the rotatable member of saidlocking-post and arranged to lock the removable posts in position whenthe lockingpost is locked, and overlapping pieces secured to the rearedges of the strips thereby forming an expansible back for the binderand preventing the locking-post from being unlocked except by its keywhen the binder is full of sheets.

19. In a binder, the combination of two strips, adapted to be moved toand from each other and provided with means to prevent their completeseparation, a pair of non-removable extensible posts, each comprisingtwo members one of which is fixed to one strip and the other of which isprovided with a locking-head in loose engagement with the other strip, apair of removable posts arranged to extend through apertures in onestrip and into engagement with the other strip, an extensiblelocking-post comprising two members secured at their ends to the stripsand having interlocking-faces, one of said members being rotatable withrespect to the other and adapted to receive a key at its end through anaperture in the corresponding strip, whereby the locking-faces may beshifted into and out of locking position, lockingslides connected withthe rotatable member of said locking-post and arranged to lock theremovable posts in position when the lockingpost is locked, said slidesbeing provided with means for engaging the heads of the nonremovableposts when the locking-post is unlocked, and overlapping pieces securedto the rear edges of the strips thereby forming an expansible back forthe binder and preventing the locking-post from being unlocked except byits key When the binder is full of I sheets.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification in thepresence of tWo sub-

